Create, Inspire, Empower

Create, Inspire, Empower.  Those three words will be our 2017 theme at Carver Elementary.  While, we always have a theme and a cute t-shirt (some are cuter than others), we typically don't do anything else with it. In fact last year, we just had the cute t-shirt, although, I will admit it was my favorite one yet. Well, times they are a changin.  This year we are going to have a theme we put into practice every single day.  I've been planning a school retreat for a couple months now (inspired from my recent visit to the Ron Clark Academy) where the ideas that we will be incorporating into Carver this year will be unveiled.  Before the actual retreat though, I have begun prepping the team for what's to come by first asking them to plan on decorating their hallways the same way so to unify us all. But the theme is about so much more than just decorations.  Let me explain...

1. Create

After visiting the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, GA and listening to the teachers talk about the experiences they CREATE for their students each and every day, I became determined to instill this desire in the teachers at Carver. At RCA, lessons aren't presented in hopes that students will remember some information. No. Experiences are created that ensure student engagement and ultimately retention of all material taught.  Whether teachers use songs or go as far as turning classrooms into football fields, Italian restaurants, or emergency rooms, it was clear creating experiences is a must for those teachers and it should be a must for us all.  As I sat there and watched Ron Clark and Hope King teach, I thought back on some lessons I taught during my own amazing teaching years.  The ones that stood out to me were, in fact, the ones where I had created experiences for my kids.  I just wish I had done it more. The first year I taught, I remember having my third graders go outside the building and run into our classroom to"stake their claim" on land as one did during the California Gold Rush. That particular lesson was taught 25 years ago this year and I still remember it like it was yesterday.  Another experience  I created for my kids was when I put them into cooperative groups where they had to make as many perfect"widgets" as they could in a certain amount of time. I loved the conversations we had as a class over their decision making process. I would also bet my fifth graders will never forget dressing up as the characters from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and being interviewed by a "reporter".  Interestingly enough, that would have been the year I taught Lucas Grabeel from High School Musical fame and his extraordinary classmates. By the way, I predicted, even in fifth grade, that he would grow up and be famous. We entered that video footage into the Nixa, Mo Language Arts Fair (which I still have) and won. I think if we are all honest with ourselves as educators, those lessons where we created experiences were the most meaningful lessons for us and our students.  I know my 10-year-old self would tell you one experience I have never forgotten was when Sparta Elementary was transformed into Spartaville and my room became a floral shop.  In fact, it was so special to me that 35 years later, it became the inspiration for Carverville. So why aren't we doing more of that?  Why aren't we creating more experiences for our kids? Well, the Carver crew will be doing just that starting August 2017.

2. Inspire

Leaving Atlanta, if you had asked the three of us lucky enough to go, what one word we would use to describe our experience, I'm betting we would all have said the same...inspiring. The facility, the teachers, the kids, the lessons, every single aspect was inspiring to us. We left there knowing it was up to us to now inspire our colleagues, and in turn, our kids. We knew we had to transform how we do almost everything at Carver from the way we greet students each morning, to what is going to be put up in our hallways, to how material is presented to our kids. We even decided to change what we are putting on our monitor in the lunchroom. We owe it to the students to inspire them all day long. How boring for educators to come to school each day and merely present material to the students. How do you think the kids feel if they are expected to just listen to material lecture style. We must bring enthusiasm and passion to every lesson not just the ones we ourselves like. Hope King says, "You have to fake it till you make it." Even if you don't like the material, the kids don't need to realize that. I know I was guilty of teaching great reading, writing and social studies lessons.  Math and Science? Well, I basically followed the textbook and I'm sure I didn't present one lesson in those subjects that my students remember. I admit, I am in awe of some of the lessons I see at Carver, but the time has come for EVERYONE to be awe-inspiring.  I know my team is ready to Inspire.  

3. Empower

If we create experiences that inspire our kids, we will ultimately empower them. Twitter is full of discussions and books about empowering kids and as I scroll through it each and every day, I am beginning to notice that specific word a lot. We as educators, must empower kids to become anything they want to be; to dream big and to try things they didn't think they could do.  If they want to take a project and extend it or try a different approach, let them. Encourage it. I remember having my third graders create a journal and write daily entries from the perspective of  Sarah in the book The Courage of Sarah Noble. One particular student exceeded any expectation I had because she felt empowered to do more than what had been assigned. Her work also won an award at the Language Arts Fair. Maybe she felt empowered during that particular activity and maybe the next activity the girl beside her felt that way. I sure hope so. We all must do a better job of empowering those in our care.  

So this year, the Carver team will be documenting the experiences we create for our kids by displaying  pictures in the hallway for everyone to see, but what lies beneath those experiences are what's important. With the creation of the experiences, comes inspiration and ultimately, empowerment. We must bring our A game every single day, all day long.  Ron Clark talked about how the kids at RCA thought the teachers were crazy when they first started singing and dancing and turning classrooms into whatever they dreamed up that day. One particular student I ate lunch with said the exact same thing.  Now it's a way of life and expected and the results speak for themselves. So this year ask yourself if you are creating experiences for your kids. If not why?  Are your lessons going to inspire your kids?  Are you planning to do the exact same activities this year as you have always done? Will you empower your kids this year? Reflect on these questions and ask yourself if this is the year you will Create, Inspire, Empower.